Weiming Li,1,* Fenglian Xu,2,* Feng Chen,1 Lei Cao,1 Xiaohang Bao1 

1Department of Anesthesiology, second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China; 2Gynaecology and Obstetrics, second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Xiaohang Bao, Department of Anesthesiology, second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China, Tel +13708328111, Email 6851950@qq.com

Abstract: To explore the effect of genicular nerve block (GNB) on pain in lesions of the knee joint. Computerized searches of randomized controlled trials were conducted in PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, with a search time frame until January 2024. Methodological and experimental quality was assessed using the risk of bias assessment tool recommended by the Cochrane Handbook. A meta-analysis was conducted of the pain score (as the primary outcome measure) using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 17. Thirteen studies involving a total of 731 patients were ultimately included. In the comparison of GNB and non-GNB, the analysis results of analgesic effects at all visits showed [SMD=− 0.51, 95% CI (− 0.89, − 0.14)]. Analysis of analgesic effects at a visit at 1 month showed [SMD=− 0.79, 95% CI (− 1.55, − 0.02)]. Subgroup analysis for the control group showed [SMD=− 4.07,9 5% CI (− 4.10, − 1.84)]. Currently, available evidence suggests that GNB may be an effective analgesic therapy and superior to other regimens in the treatment of lesions of the knee joint.

Keywords: knee joint, pain, genicular nerve block, meta-analysis